14" binocular telescope...

[DeanD]

Hi all,

I just took delivery of most of the materials needed to construct a 14" dob binocular telescope, including all the glass, the go-to drives, etc. A friend bought it all, but unfortunately was unable to finish it, and asked me to take over.

I have found a number of on-line articles, notably these:
http://www.jerryoltion.com/binoscope.htm (this is the one my friend seems to have referenced most with the work he has done already)
http://www.astrosurf.com/eroyer/bino360 ... ndex_e.htm
http://www.lotsofbow.com/bino.html

These are basically variations of a theme, and probably give me enough ideas; but I thought I would throw it out there and see if anyone else had any brilliant ideas: especially for an easy way to change the inter-ocular distance, collimate and break-down/reassemble for transporting... (at this stage I am intending to construct it as a rigid system, with the secondary cages turnable for changing the IOD)

As a bonus, you can get to play with the scope next time you visit South Australia!

This will be a long term project, but I am hoping to have it finished by next May for the next astro-camp in the Flinders Ranges in SA.

All thoughts gratefully accepted!

All the best,

Dean

[Bigzmey]

Good luck! Sounds like a complicated, but (potentially) fun project.

[Lady Fraktor]

It should be an amazing binoscope when done!
Good luck with the project

[helicon]

Wow. I'm impressed that you are undertaking such a difficult and cool project. When you are finished that's going to be one amazing instrument. Good luck with it!

[Max Nomad]

Hi all,

I just took delivery of most of the materials needed to construct a 14" dob binocular telescope, including all the glass, the go-to drives, etc. A friend bought it all, but unfortunately was unable to finish it, and asked me to take over.

That sounds awesome, Dean, I'm envious! Good luck on that journey!

A few questions come to mind: were these two dobs being converted into a binoscope or a binoscope "kit"? Would it be guided by one go-to drive or two? Last but not least, are the OTAs truss?

[Kingofthehill]

You've got more guts, and time, than I. Good luck!

[DeanD]

You've got more guts, and time, than I. Good luck!

Not sure about the "time" bit: it won't be finished in the next few days anyway!

[DeanD]

Hi all,

I just took delivery of most of the materials needed to construct a 14" dob binocular telescope, including all the glass, the go-to drives, etc. A friend bought it all, but unfortunately was unable to finish it, and asked me to take over.

That sounds awesome, Dean, I'm envious! Good luck on that journey!

A few questions come to mind: were these two dobs being converted into a binoscope or a binoscope "kit"? Would it be guided by one go-to drive or two? Last but not least, are the OTAs truss?

The scope will be built from scratch: the mirrors are a light-weight matched pair specially commissioned from Hubble optics for the build (less than 3mm difference in their fl, and rated at around .99 Strehl at 550Nm). One go-to drive powered by Argo Navis. And yes, it will be a truss.

[Max Nomad]

The scope will be built from scratch: the mirrors are a light-weight matched pair specially commissioned from Hubble optics for the build (less than 3mm difference in their fl, and rated at around .99 Strehl at 550Nm). One go-to drive powered by Argo Navis. And yes, it will be a truss.

Wow, hats off to ya! Just thinking about this project I can almost hear Edgar Winter's "Frankenstein" in the background. It sounds like something worth documenting with a video journal; the process of building the binoscope seems like it'll be as fascinating as the finished product.